Inception was everything I hoped it’d be. It was sufficiently complex (though nowhere near as complicated as Primer or even, Memento) and despite the 148 minute running time, very very engaging.
(Spoilers)
Then again, like all great films, Inception has its flaws and it’s not just the false narrative or the plot holes. Christopher Nolan has a set of rules for his world – rules that are essential in moving the plot forward; call it cinematic license, but it does feel like Nolan gets away with a little too much. I might be nitpicking but that’s what happens when you go in with great expectations.
Critics who’ve compared it to 2001: ASO or Blade Runner are only kidding themselves. Inception is more than just another great science fiction film – it’s about mathematics and engineering. The narrative is so tightly constructed that when scenes flit across the three (or four) ‘dream levels’, you cannot help but marvel at the genius behind it especially since time is supposed to be relative in all levels. A couple of years ago, the brother suggested I read Douglas R. Hofstadter’s wonderful book, Godel, Escher, Bach and after Inception, I find myself comparing the two. The film’s production design is certainly inspired by M.C. Escher’s art and some of the themes have been explored in other films. In fact, for a much more accurate interpretation of lucid dreams and more specifically, the concept of limbo, I’d recommend Richard Linklater’s underrated Waking Life.
Despite my reservations, I loved Inception. I find it oddly comforting that amidst all the crap that finds its way into cinemas, we can still count on someone to deliver a truly original blockbuster that you don’t have to switch your brain off for. And yes, I’ll be watching it again.
9/10
I enjoyed Inception, partly because I went into the theater without any expectations. I hadn't even watched a trailer! So I was pretty blown away. Such movies are hard to come by!
Waking Life is a great movie, though!
It truly was an exceptional movie. But like I was telling Mel, I would've loved a more "close" ending, but I guess it's just me!
The majority of discussion about Inception that happening online and elsewhere focuses on the machinations of the plot, rather than on the quality of the film-making, or the narrative, or the underlying themes. Even the critics seem to be bowled over by the complexity of the plot. But as you state above – "the narrative is so tightly constructed", the real genius of the film is not it's plot, but the way the plot is presented.
My problems with Inception are not related to the plot – I think it's a well constructed idea and a very well executed one, but rather that, as Jim Emerson so succinctly describes – "it reduces the complexity (and beauty and terror) of the human subconscious to the dimensions of a routine action movie or video game." Yes it's genius! But also, it's Inception's big flaw. I cannot take the film too seriously because of it. Yet at the same time, it is probably one of the best action movies ever made.
Loved the movie. Seemed to have been heavily inspired by Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Waking Life and The Matrix (in descending order). It was awesome to see Penrose stairs and Einstein's Equivalence Principle feature in the film
Watched Waking Life after reading this post. You are right. Btw, watched Bladerunner sometime back. Disappointing.
Please tell me you’re watching this again!
Now that I’m finally not traveling aimlessly, I can catch up on things.